How do you edit?

[Leanne]

when i give feedback i often don't know if what i think is right or wrong, should i still give feedback?

Yes. There is no "right or wrong" in poetry. If you've arrived at a meaning from your reading of the poem, then there must be something in that poem -- combined with your own experiences -- that's got you to that point. If it's not what the writer intended, then it gives the writer something to consider: whether or not something in the poem needs more clarity, or whether he/she is happy for alternative interpretations and will leave it alone. No two people will get exactly the same thing out of a poem (unless the poem is very shallow, simplistic and bleedingly obvious, in which case the poet has bigger problems!)

another problem i have is when i get conflicting feedback, how do i decide which if any to use. what if most of the feedback says do this, and one says do that, should i do that if i think the "that" is correct. when do i stop editing something, if i publish a poem can i edit it afterwards?

You are the one in control of your poem. You should listen to feedback, then take a step back from the poem to consider whether as a reader you feel the poem is enhanced by any changes suggested. Editing just for its own sake is pointless tinkering. If something is just the way you want it, leave it alone -- but be prepared for others to possibly disagree with you. Even published, well-respected poets have their critics and detractors. Own your art and have the confidence to stand behind it -- but remember that there's a big difference between the confidence of someone who knows they've done a good job, and the arrogance of someone who just expects others to agree with them.

Many poets edit after their poems have been published. You'll often see slightly different versions of famous poems. They're rarely edited much, of course, because the (reasonable) expectation is that by the time you're happy to publish something, you should have put a great deal of consideration into it and made it as close to perfect as possible.

does anyone else feel the same way or is it just me

I'm prepared to bet that plenty of other people have similar questions about their poetry. How you feel about everything else... well, that might be just you